SOP 'Dean's Hour' features lessons for success from 'The Wizard of Oz'

Almost everyone has seen the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz," but what they may not realize is that it contains valuable lessons that are useful to all of us as we seek success in our personal and professional lives.

This month, Dr. Terry Schwinghammer, chair of the School’s Clinical Pharmacy Department, presented, "Lessons for Success from the Wizard of Oz," as part of the School's Dean's Hour.

Christa Currey: When did you realize that “The Wizard of Oz” contained important life lessons?

Terry Schwinghammer: I watched the movie often when I was younger, but I wasn’t thinking much about life lessons at the age of 12! Years later, as I was developing a presentation for a pharmacy conference, I was reminded of the movie’s many lessons.

CC: What are they?

TS: There are six. Manage change, confront fear, choose your attitude, be persistent, have fun and leave a good legacy.

CC: Why are these lessons important?

TS: Most of us rarely take the time to ponder who we are as human beings, what we stand for, what we want to become, and how we define success. In particular, we seldom stop to think about the kind of legacy we are going to leave for others who have been an important part of our lives. We all have personal heroes and mentors who had a strong influence on us. But, we also need to think about how we influence other people and how important that can be in their lives.

CC: How can students implement these lessons in their daily lives?

TS: Pharmacy students are in a very busy and difficult phase right now, studying to become healthcare providers often while working at night and on weekends. But soon they will graduate, leave the protected halls of academe, and walk out into the real world. Many of them will have careers spanning 45 years or more and will also get married, buy homes, have children, and likely move a few times to change jobs. My goal is to heighten awareness that they will soon be facing many big unknowns and big decisions. How they manage those challenges will play a large role in how successful they are both professionally and personally.